Discover top fiddle players
In the evening you can enjoy concerts of the 13 top fiddle players involved in the festival. From Wednesday till Sunday several groups and formations play at different locations: De Centrale, Bij‘ De Vieze Gasten, het Muzikantenhuis, Muziekclub ‘t Ey (Belsele), Gallery Nanda (Lokeren), het Bruggenhuis (Geraardsbergen) and Atelier Gent 74. With the absolute apotheosis on Saturday when almost all teachers gather on stage for Masters on the Move. Discover all concerts below!
Overview of all concerts
Serdar Pazarcioğlu Group
Het Muzikantenhuis | 20:00 | free
Serdar Pazarcıoğlu comes from Akhisar - near Izmir - and is considered one of the most talented Turkish Roma violinists of his generation. He started his musical career at a very young age as a wedding party musician and as a member of various Turkish classical ensembles. But this master improviser pushes his boundaries and subtly makes the bridge from Turkey and the Balkans to, among others, India (Lakshminarayana Subramaniam) and the world of Gipsy Jazz (Stephane Grapelli), without denying its own authenticity. For Fiddlers on the Move he takes the stage at the Muzikantenhuis, together with an occasional ensemble including clarinetist Laurent Clouet and violinist Ruben Tenenbaum.
📍 Dampoortstraat 52, 9000 Ghent
Poelbal on the Move
De Poelband, Duo Barja & Bojan, Duo De Schepper - Sanczuk
De Centrale | 21:00 | € 7 at the door (no presale) / included in the all in pass
For the first time, we have a real balfolk with an extra large portion of violins. De Poelband, the student orchestra of the Art Academy De Poel, conducted by Naomi Vercauteren and Birgit Bornauw, will open the dance, followed by the Slovenian Duo Barja Drnovsek & Bojan Cvetreznik to conclude with the Belgian Duo De Schepper - Sanczuk. Are you ready to dance?
21:00 | De Poelband
22:00 | Duo Barja & Bojan
23:00 | Duo De Schepper - Sanczuk
Co-organisation with GO! Kunstacademie Gent | De Poel
The Slovenian Fiddle Gang, Damast Duo & Wild Strings Trio
Bij' De Vieze Gasten | 20:00 | € 2 / € 6 / € 10 / included in the all in pass | 🎟️ last tickets
The Slovenian Fiddle Gang
The Slovenian Fiddle Gang is a group of young virtuoso Folk violin players led by Bojan Cvetrežnik and Barja Drnovšek. Bojan and Barja are violin, double bass and fretted instrument players of the Slovenia-based band Terrafolk (BBC world music award) and the international Symbolic Orchestra. They are leading mentors at the Godalkanje violin project in Ljubljana and are renowned for their educational success with young players to a very high standard. The Slovenian fiddle gang performs a wide range of fiddle music from different genres. The young players have learned hundreds of tunes already at mid teen age. They have traveled from Bulgaria to Spain and performed in 6 countries in the last year, inspiring audiences with their skills, enthusiasm and their attitude towards playing.
Damast Duo
Violinist Shalan Alhamwy and accordionist Jonas Malfliet bring traditional songs from Syria, Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Germany and Belgium. Their original arrangements leave a lot of room for improvisation, nostalgia and virtuosity. The name Damast Duo is inspired by the luxurious textile damask ('damask' in Dutch) from Damascus. Damask spread through trade along the silk route. This cultural crossover between East and West is also what typifies the music of Damask Duo. Their album “Safar” (which means traveling in Arabic), which was released in 2018, symbolizes the musical journey between Syria and Belgium. The songs were arranged with elements that come in handy during this trip: improvisation, nostalgia, friendship and virtuosity.
Wild Strings Trio
Wild Strings Trio is a high-powered combination of acoustic musicians bringing with them a kaleidoscope of styles and emotions with their trademark enthusiasm and virtuosity that delights audiences wherever they go. Based in Slovenia, French cellist Toby Kuhn, Slovakian violinist Petra Onderufová and Slovenian guitarist Aleksander Kuzmić take a blend of Balkan rhythms, funk riffs, jazz impro, flamenco, celtic and more to make epic compositions that are much more than the sum of their parts. The trio's travelling lifestyle leads them regularly around Europe, bringing them as far as Tehran, Samarqand or Beijing; on the road they never fail to meet fabulous musicians and warm welcomes, that are in turn woven into a music of discovery and transformation. They released their latest album Bendjistan in 2019.
Barbora Botošová ft. Martin Balogh & Friends
Het Bruggenhuis | 21:00 | € 9 / € 12 | 🎟️ tickets
Barbora Botošová has been active as a violinist, composer and music teacher for more than 10 years. In 2008 she founded her own group Bohémiens. In addition to her classical academic education, she learned the traditional Roma repertoire from her musical family members: her father Eugen Botoš (founder of the Violin Orchestra Bratislava), her brother Eugen Botoš Jr. (founder of the Slovakian jazz funk band Finally) and last but not least her legendary grandfather Ján Berky Mrenica who would continue to inspire her after his death in 2008. In 2019 she released her debut album from "Barbora Botošová & Friends - Colors of my Soul". For Fiddlers on the Move she is accompanied by some local friends, an ensemble of Slovak Roma musicians who have been living and working in Ghent for many years, including Martin Balogh.
📍 Majoor van Lierdelaan 50, 9500 Geraardsbergen
Michalis & Petros Kouloumis Quartet | Marcel Râmba & The Brussels Balkan Orchestra 5tet
De Centrale | 20:00 | € 7 / € 10 / € 13 / included in the all in pass | 🎟️ tickets
Michalis & Petros Kouloumis Quartet: Cyprus Elegies
For the first time, the world sensation Cyprus-born brothers, Michalis and Petros Kouloumis will tour in Belgium and the Netherlands. Michalis, a highly-acclaimed violinist and educator and Petros, an exceptional singer and lute player will showcase music from their homeland, Cyprus, as well as material from Michalis' debut album "Soil" mingled with rich and soulful improvisations (taksims, amanes). The quartet will also present original compositions from the long-awaited album of Michalis, "Displaced Dreams", which is due for release in March 2020. Dine Doneff aka Costas Theodorou, a highly-regarded multi-instrument artist, with albums released on ECM label and many collaborations, Savina Yannatou among others, as well as the distinguished oud player Alexandros Papadimitrakis will complete the quartet.
Marcel Râmba & The Brussels Balkan Orchestra 5tet
Marcel Râmba is a violonist from Beica de Jos, Transylvania, Mures county. He grew up in a musical family and started to play the violin at the age of five. His father was his first teacher. He is soloist at the professional Ansamblul Muresul and member of the Roma music and dance project Romafest with which he toured several times in Japan. Beside his career has a performer, Râmba spent a huge part of his career sharing his knowledge of the music, and this on various instruments, but also teaching the traditional way of playing in his region of Transylvania. He teaches at the Academy of Art from Targu Mures but also in his own village, where he created an international music school together with Belgian violonist Nicolas Hauzeur. For Fiddlers on the Move they rejoin their forces with an exquisite selection of great musicians from The Brussels Balkan Orkestra: Jean-Christophe Gairard (violin & bratsch), Zoli Kekény (double bass) and Johannes "Brahms" Szikkan Olsson (accordion).
Gregor Borland Solo & Barbora Botošová ft. Martin Balogh & Friends
Muziekclub 't Ey | 21:00 | € 12 / € 15 | 🎟️ tickets
Gregor Borland
Gregor Borland can trace his Scottish fiddling heritage back 200 years. Gregor grew up near Inverness in the Scottish highlands and started fiddle lessons with Donald Riddell at the age of 9. After several years and many Scottish championship successes in fiddle competitions all over Scotland, he continued his studies with Hector MacAndrew an acclaimed fiddler in the north-eastern tradition. Both his teachers inspired and influenced his great love of highland pipe marches and stirring strathspeys. He played and record with many great bands and artists, including Kathryn Tickell, Davy Steele, Jim Malcolm and Burach, to name just a few. Greg has taught at 100's of workshops in the UK and worldwide over many years and is passionate about passing on his musical heritage to the next generation of fiddle players. Greg is also equally at home on bass guitar or mandolin.
Barbora Botošová ft. Martin Balogh & Friends
Barbora Botošová has been active as a violinist, composer and music teacher for more than 10 years. In 2008 she founded her own group Bohémiens. In addition to her classical academic education, she learned the traditional Roma repertoire from her musical family members: her father Eugen Botoš (founder of the Violin Orchestra Bratislava), her brother Eugen Botoš Jr. (founder of the Slovakian jazz funk band Finally) and last but not least her legendary grandfather Ján Berky Mrenica who would continue to inspire her after his death in 2008. In 2019 she released her debut album from "Barbora Botošová & Friends - Colors of my Soul". For Fiddlers on the Move she is accompanied by some local friends, an ensemble of Slovak Roma musicians who have been living and working in Ghent for many years, including Martin Balogh.
📍 Koutermolenstraat 6b, 9111 Belsele
Kabaretalè - Yiddish cabaret ft. Amit Weisberger
Atelier Gent 74 | 20:00 | € 15 | 🎟️ tickets
Kabaretalè stands for the old Yiddish style, moving and warm, explored by three crazy lovers of this music: Amit Weisberger (vocals, violin), Corinne Ernoux (piano, accordion, vocals) and Marine Goldwaser (clarinet, flutes). Songs in Yiddish and (translations) in French. Songs to laugh, cry, drink, dance and above all (Oy!) lots of beautiful love songs. A funny and poetic show, with the offbeat elegance of another era.
📍 François Benardstraat 74, 9000 Ghent
Wild Strings Trio
Gallery Nanda | 20:00 | € 15 | 🎟️ tickets
Wild Strings Trio is a high-powered combination of acoustic musicians bringing with them a kaleidoscope of styles and emotions with their trademark enthusiasm and virtuosity that delights audiences wherever they go. Based in Slovenia, French cellist Toby Kuhn, Slovakian violinist Petra Onderufová and Slovenian guitarist Aleksander Kuzmić take a blend of Balkan rhythms, funk riffs, jazz impro, flamenco, celtic and more to make epic compositions that are much more than the sum of their parts. The trio's travelling lifestyle leads them regularly around Europe, bringing them as far as Tehran, Samarqand or Beijing; on the road they never fail to meet fabulous musicians and warm welcomes, that are in turn woven into a music of discovery and transformation. They released their latest album Bendjistan in 2019.
📍 Drongenstraat 50, 9160 Lokeren
Masters on the Move
De Centrale | 20:00 | € 4 / € 7 / € 10 / included in the all in pass | 🎟️ tickets
The absolute apotheosis of Fiddlers on the Move! Almost all teachers gather on stage during a unique Masters on the Move concert. With Shalan Alhamwy, Gregor Borland, Barbora Botosova, Bojan Cvetreznik, Laura Cortese, Mia Marin, Petra Onderuf, Toby Kuhn, Serdar Pazarcioglu, Ruben Tenenbaum, Anouk Sanczuk, Alexandre Tripodi, Amit Weisberger and of course Wouter Vandenabeele. After all, Fiddlers on the Move is and remains his brainchild!
Barbora Botošová ft. Martin Balogh & Friends
De Centrale | 17:00 | free
Barbora Botošová has been active as a violinist, composer and music teacher for more than 10 years. In 2008 she founded her own group Bohémiens. In addition to her classical academic education, she learned the traditional Roma repertoire from her musical family members: her father Eugen Botoš (founder of the Violin Orchestra Bratislava), her brother Eugen Botoš Jr. (founder of the Slovakian jazz funk band Finally) and last but not least her legendary grandfather Ján Berky Mrenica who would continue to inspire her after his death in 2008. In 2019 she released her debut album from "Barbora Botošová & Friends - Colors of my Soul". For Fiddlers on the Move she is accompanied by some local friends, an ensemble of Slovak Roma musicians who have been living and working in Ghent for many years, including Martin Balogh.
Wild Strings Trio
Het Bruggenhuis | 14:30 | € 9 / € 12 | 🎟️ tickets
Wild Strings Trio is a high-powered combination of acoustic musicians bringing with them a kaleidoscope of styles and emotions with their trademark enthusiasm and virtuosity that delights audiences wherever they go. Based in Slovenia, French cellist Toby Kuhn, Slovakian violinist Petra Onderufová and Slovenian guitarist Aleksander Kuzmić take a blend of Balkan rhythms, funk riffs, jazz impro, flamenco, celtic and more to make epic compositions that are much more than the sum of their parts. The trio's travelling lifestyle leads them regularly around Europe, bringing them as far as Tehran, Samarqand or Beijing; on the road they never fail to meet fabulous musicians and warm welcomes, that are in turn woven into a music of discovery and transformation. They released their latest album Bendjistan in 2019.
📍 Majoor van Lierdelaan 50, 9500 Geraardsbergen